Door check



P 1950 F. w. BEYER 2,523,088

DOOR CHECK Filed 22, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR. Weak/2'6 I14 Beige:

Sept. 19, 1950 F, w, BEYER 2,523,088

DOOR CHECK I Filed Jan; 22, 1949 2 sn eets-sneet 2 I IN V EN TOR.

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Patented Sept. 19 1950 DOOR CHECK Frederick W. Beyer, Detroit, Mich., assignor to National Stamping Company, a corporation of Michigan Application January 22,1949, Serial No. 72,109

. Claims.

This invention relates to adevice for checking the opening movement of a hinged door and for releasably retaining the'door in an open position.

wellas' means for checking the opening movement of the door. I

It is a further object of this invention to provide a door check of the aforementioned type (cue-s It is an object of this invention to provide a door check which includes means for releasably retaining a hinged door in an open position, as

which includesan arm or link which has one end thereof connected to the hinged doorand the opposite end thereof projecting through an aperture in a retainer member, connected to a door supporting pillar, and which carries a single leaf spring member and a cushioning element for engaging the retainer member so as to check the ropening movement of the door and releasably retain the door in an open position.

It is a further object of'this invention to pro- Y vide a door checkof the aforementioned type in which the leaf'lspring frictionally and slidably engages the retainer member at all times so that th'ere'will be no play or rattling between the door .checkparts irrespective of the position of the hinged door with: respect to the pillar andstriker plate.

It is a further object of this. invention to provide a door check device of the aforementioned ,type in which a cushioning element is supported on the inner end of the arm for limiting the maximum extent to which thelhinged door may be opened.

.It is a further object of this invention to provide in a door check of the aforementioned type,

a rigid member on the arm, adjacent to the cushioning element, which movably positions one end of the leaf spring on the arm, thereby eliminating the necessity of any special fastening devices for connecting the leaf spring end to the arm.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide, in a door check device of the aforementioned type, an arm which is channel shaped in cross section, so as to be especially'strong and rugged in construction, even though formed from relatively light sheet metal, and so as to provide a longitudinal guideway in which the leaf spring ispositioned.

It is a still' further object of this invention to provide a door check device of the aforementioned type which is relatively economical to 'manufacture, simple in construction and efficient in operation. It is a'still further object of this invention to :.provide,.iin a door check device of the aforemenof the structure illustrated in Fig. 1, taken in 'erat ion and exceptionally durable.

. z I tioned type, a novel striker or retainer plate which is simplein construction, efficient in *op- These and other objects of thisinvention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the 2.000111- 1 panying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view through a swinging door, supporting hinge pillar therefor, and a door check device of this invention, showing the arrangement of the parts when the door is in its open position;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view, similar to Fig. 1, showing the arrangement of the parts when the door is in its closed position;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 2, taken along the line 3-3 thereof; Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the door check arm and leaf spring carried thereby; Fig. 5-is a fragmentary end elevational view thedirec'tion of the arrow 5 thereon;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectionalview of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1, taken along the line 6--6 thereof Fig. '7 is a sectional view of the structure illus- Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view similar to Fig. 1, and illustrating a further embodiment of the invention; l

Fig. 9 is a sectional View of the structure illustrated in Fig. 8, taken along the line 9-9 thereof; Fig. 10 is an enlarged end elevational view of the retainer or striker plate illustrated in Fig.

8; and

Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 10, taken along the line lI-II thereof.

It will be appreciated that in the broad aspects of this invention the door check arm may be connected to any suitable part of a door member or its adjacent supporting member; and the retainer means may be. connected to or form a part I of either of such members.

For example, the retainer means may be formed in one of the butt plates of a' door hinge and the arm connected to the other butt plate of the hinge. -However,

"in the more limited aspects of the invention, as shown in the drawings, and more particularly in Figs. l-'7, wherein a preferred embodimentof the invention is illustrated, it will be seen that the door check device includes a rigid elongated arm l3 which has one end thereof pivotally connected to a vehicle door member l5 by means of a pivot pin or rivet ll andbracket I8. The

an opening 28 and the plate 21 is provided with.

an elongated opening 29 in which the arm I3 is movably positioned and supported. An enlarged substantially fiat head portion 3| is formed on the'inner end of the arm I3, and is disposed inwardly of the retaining plate 21 when the door check is installed on a vehicle as shown A rigid washer-like member. 33, having an bowed portions 49 engage a wall of the retainer plate opening 23 and the spring strip is compressed toward the arm so as to permit the bowed portions to pass through the retainer plate opening and releasably retain the door in its open position. As there are a plurality of bowed portions the door can be releasably retained in either its fully open position or in partially opened positions. By offsetting thespring strip 43 adjacent its outer end, it will be appreciated that the intermediate portion of the spring strip elongated central aperture 35, is sleeved on the arm I3 and abuts the enlarged arm head portion 3|. A cushioning element 31, which has anelongated central aperture 39, is sleeved on the arm 7 I3. and: abuts the rigid member 33. The cushioning element 3'! engages the inner face of the retaining plate 2! when the vehicle'door I5 is in its-fully opened position, as illustrated in Fig. 1, so as to limit the maximum extent of opening movement of the door.

The arm I3 is, as can be best seen in Fig. 7, channel shaped in cross section; that is the opposite longitudinal sides of the arm I3 are bent upwardly at 4!. The channel shaped arm construction permits the arm to be formed from relatively light gauge metal. An elongated leaf spring strip 43 is positioned in the channel portion of the arm I3, that is, the spring strip 43 is positioned on the upper face of. the arm I3 between the upwardly bent sides 4| thereof. The

spring strip 43 is downwardly offset at its outer end, as indicated at 45, so that the offset portion abuts the upper face of the arm I3. adjacent the extreme outer end thereof. The opposite; or inner end of the spring strip 43 extends through the cushioning element central opening 39, and

the rigid washer member central opening 35, so

as to be movably positioned and guided thereby.

Therefore, the portion of the spring strip between ber 33, such compression is possible. The spring offset portion 3-5 is provided, adjacent its outer end, with an aperture 41, and the rivet or pivot pin I! which connects the arm I3 to the door bracket I 8 also connects the outer end of the spring strip 43 to the arm I3. However, when the door check device is sent to an automobile manufacturer for installation, the outer end of the spring strip 43 need not be connected to the arm, as the spring strip will normally be retained on the arm by the frictional engagement of its inner end with the cushioning element 31 and the rigid washer member 33.

The spring strip 43 is provided adjacent the arm cushioning element 31, with a plurality of longitudinally spaced, outwardly bowed portions 48, which are adapted to engage a wall of the retainer plate opening 29 so as to aid in checking the opening movement of the door and so as to releasably retain the door in an open position. When the door is opened the. outwa y l a .t-ablike projecting will resiliently maintain the arm and strip in frictional engagement with the walls of the retainer plate opening 29 so that there will be no play between the arm I3 and the retainer plate 21, which would cause any rattling when the device is installed on a vehicle.

Thus, the door check device of this invention is constructed so that only a single leaf spring strip is employed and the spring strip has its inner end movably positioned and guided by the rigid washer-like. member 33, so that, no addie tional attaching means need be provided for securing the end of the spring strip to the arm.

By extending the end of the spring strip through the washer member 33, the outer end of the spring strip is prevented from moving laterally With respect to the arm but the spring strip can, when compressed, move longitudinally with respect to the washer member 33. Furthermore, with the construction of this invention, the annoyance of having the door check device rattle when installed in a vehicle, is completely eliminated by the resilient and frictional engagement of the spring strip and arm with the retaining plate opening walls, even when the'door is completely closed as illustrated in Fig. 2.

Referring now to the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 8 through I1, it will be seen that the arrangement of the parts is the sameas that previously described. In this embodiment, the door check arm I3 is not channel shaped, as in the previous embodiment, but is made out of a heavier gauge metal, so that no reinforcing upturned flanges are necessary. Also, in this embodiment, the retaining member 25" is different in construction than the member illustrated in the previous embodiment. In this embodiment, the inner wall of the retainer bracket a plate 53 secured to its inner face. The bracket 26' has an elongated central aperture 28', as previously described, and the outer plate 5| has portion over the aperture 28', reversely bent, as indicated at 55, around one side wall of the aperture 28', so as to reinforce the same. The inner plate 53, similarly, has a tablike projecting portion which is r-eversely bent at 51, in the opposite direction, so as to reinforce the opposite edge of the bracket aperture 28'. With this construction there is no need for a retainer plate, such as plate 2'! in the previous embodiment, and the retainer member 25' is exceptionally strong and durable and the danger of the wall, which defines the opening 28, break- .ing away or becoming damaged is materially Figs. 1-7, the door'check devices are identical in construction and in function, so that a further description of the function of the door check device illustrated in Figs. 8. through. 11 is not deemed necessary and likembodiment are designated by primed numbers corresponding to like numbersin :the' first embodiment.

What is claime d isf 15'" "device for releasably retaining in anopen 15681111 011 a' door' member hingedly supported on a supporting member, including a rigid arm having one end thereof adapted to be connected to one of said members, retaining means connected to the other of said members, including a platelike element having'an'aperture therein for the reception of said arm, a rigid member sleeved on said arm, abutment means on said arm adjacent one end thereof against which said rigid member is positioned, a cushioning element sleeved on said arm and abutting said rigid mem ber, a leaf spring member positioned on said arm and having one end thereof extending through said cushioning element and rigid member while the opposite end thereof is adapted to be connected to said arm, said spring being compressible against said arm by the edges of said retaining means plate aperture, so as to aid in checking the opening movement of the door and releasably retain the latter in an open position.

2. A device for releasably retaining in an open position a door member hingedly supported on a supporting member, includinga rigid arm having one end thereof adapted to be connected to one of said members and having an abutment adapted to be connected to said arm, an offset portion on said spring adjacent to but spaced longitudinally of said cushioning element which is adapted to be engaged by and move past an edge of said striker plate aperture so as to compress said'spring against said arm and aid in checking the opening movement of the door as well as releasably retaining the latter in an open position.

3. A device for releasably retaining in an open position a door member 'hingedly supported on a supporting member, including a rigid elongated arm which is channel shaped in cross section and one end of which is adapted to be connected to one of said members, an abutment on the other end of said arm, a striker plate connected to the other of said members and having an opening therein for the reception of said arm,'a rigid member sleeved on said arm and engaging said arm abutment, a cushioning element sleeved on said arm and having one face thereof abutting said rigid member and the opposite end thereof adapted to abut one face of said striker plate, a leaf spring member positioned in said arm channel and having one end thereof extending through and movably positioned by said cushioning element and rigid member, while the opposite end of said spring member is adapted 'to be connected to said arm, said spring being compressible againstsaid arm by the edges of said striker lateopening so as to aid in checking the opening movement of the door and releasably retain the latter in an open position.

greases artsin the latter 6. 4; A device for releasably retainingin'an open position a door member hingedly supported on "a supporting member, including a rigid elongated arm having one end adapted tobe connected 'to one of said members, an abutmenton the opposite end of said arm, a striker plate having an opening therein for the sliding reception of said arm, a rigidmember sleeved on said ar-"m and engaging said armabutment, a cushioning element sleeved on said arm and having one face thereof abutting said rigid member and the opposite face thereof adapted to abut said striker plate adjacent said striker plate opening, a leaf spring member positioned on one face of said arm and having one end thereof extending through said cushioning element and rigid member and engageable by an edge of said striker plate opening, an inwardly offset portion adjacent the opposite end of said leaf spring engaging said face of said arm adjacent the end where it is adapted. to be connected to one of said members, whereby the portion of said spring between said rigid member and the offset end opposite thereof will be spaced from the face of said arm so that said spring will frictionally engage an edge of said striker plate opening throughout its entire movement in the striker plate opening, when the latter are connected in a door structure, so as to aid :in checking the opening movement of the door and releasably retain the latter in an open position.

5. A door check structure including an elongated rigid arm, an abutment on one end of said arm, a rigid member sleeved on said arm and engaging said arm abutment, a cushioning element positioned on said arm and abutting said rigid member, a leaf spring member positioned on said arm and having one end thereof extending through said cushioning element and rigid member, While the opposite end thereof is adapted to be connected to said arm, a plurality of longitudinally spaced outwardly bowed portions on said spring adapted to be compressed against said arm.

6. A door check structure including a rigid elongated arm which is channel shaped in cross section, an abutment on one end of said arm, a rigid member sleeved on said arm and engaging said arm abutment, a cushioning element sleeved on said arm and abutting said rigid member, a leaf spring member positioned in said arm channel and having one end thereof extending through and movably positioned by said cushioning element and rigid member, while the opposite end thereof is adapted to be connected to said arm, a plurality of longitudinally spaced outwardly bowed portions on said spring member adjacent said cushioning element adapted to be compressed against said arm.

7. A door check structure including a rigid elongated arm, an abutment on one end of said arm, a rigid member on said arm engaging said arm abutment, a cushioning element on said arm abutting said rigid member, a leaf spring member positioned on one face of said arm and having one end thereof extending through said cushioning element and rigid member, an inwardly offset portion at the opposite end of said leaf spring engaging said arm'face adjacent one end thereof, whereby the portion of said spring between said rigid member and said offset end will be spaced from the face of said arm and will be compressible towards said arm.

8. A door check structure including a, plate having an aperture therein, a pair of plates se- 7 V euredtothe oppositefaces of said first p1ate,-an h REFERENCES CITED integral Projecting portion Ofione of said Plates The following references are of r'cord' in the :above .said first plate aperture being reversely file of this patent: bent around one edge of said first plate aperture, an integral projecting portion of saidsecond 5 FOREIGN PS plate adjacent said aperture being reversely bent "f Number Country Date in the opposite direction over the opposite edge 7 a 832,942 France= w .r July 1.1 1 933 of said first plate aperture.

' FREDERICK W. BEYER. 

